Recall that Energy Afrique had reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited secured an emergency $3 billion crude oil repayment loan from the African Export-Import Bank popularly known as AfreximBank.
The agreement was reached on Wednesday at Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. The signed agreement promised immediate disbursement of funds, a critical step that positions NNPC to actively support the Federal Government’s ongoing fiscal and monetary policies.
Here are eight important things you need to know about the Loan as explained by the company via its Twitter handle.
- The loan is not a crude-for-refined products swap but an upfront cash loan against proceeds from a limited amount of future crude oil production.
- The loan is not risky for NNPCL or the Nigerian Treasury. The exposure for NNPC is very limited, covering just a fraction of their entitlements. Additionally, there are no sovereign guarantees tied to this loan.
- The loan will assist NNPCL in settling taxes and royalties in advance. It will also equip the Federal Government with the necessary dollar liquidity to stabilize the Naira, with limited risk.
- The funds will be released in stages or tranches based on the specific needs and requirements of the Federal Government.
- A strengthened Naira as a result of this initiative will lead to a reduction in fuel costs. This means that if the Naira appreciates in value, the cost of fuel will drop and further increases will be halted.
- Subsidies are not coming back, but a stronger Naira will result in lower prices from the current level, making subsidies unnecessary. The deregulation policy remains unchanged.
- The loan will be repaid against a fraction of proceeds from future crude oil production. It’s a strategic move that ensures a balance between our current economic needs and future production capabilities.
- It is not like previous swap deals. This is not a crude for refined products agreement where the government does not earn any proceeds from the swap.
The policies are aimed at achieving stability in the exchange rate market, a pressing concern that has impacted the Nigerian Naira against the US Dollar.
